I’ve received pushback from some on the Left for raising concerns about @Tim_Walz’s China record. I’ve also encountered pushback from some on the Right for praising elements of it.

A brief response...

The Chinese Communist Party presents a generational national security threat to the American people. The only way Americans can overcome the CCP is if we work together. No single political party can win a cold war alone. America needs bipartisan cooperation to counter China’s great game.

That means, among other things, putting policy ahead of politics.

When I published Countering China’s Great Game in April, I ended the conclusion with these words: “Competing to win against the CCP will come at a cost. Washington politicians will need to put country before party…The American people need Republicans and Democrats to cooperate and legislate for strategic advantage, not partisan wins.”

That’s why I’m endeavoring to evenly handle Walz’s China record.

⭕️ Walz met with the Dalai Lama.
⭕️ He regularly honors the memory of Tiananmen Square.
⭕️ He advocated for CCP political prisoners, including Liu Xiaobo.
⭕️ He supported legislation in support of democracy in Hong Kong.

These are objectively good things.

That said, I’m also raising concerns where they arise.

❌ Walz doesn’t appear to believe America is in an cold war with the CCP.
❌ He appears to oppose a TikTok divestment requirement.
❌ PRC funding for his student exchanges raises questions.
❌ He appears to have cultivated relationships with united front-adjacent organizations (more to come along these lines).

It’s a mixed record, as I told @BloombergRadio last night. To be sure, it's entirely possible more information comes out in the next few weeks/months that colors his record one way or another.

Either way, America will lose this cold war with the CCP if we make enemies of one other. Yes, it’s an election year. But candidate vetting must always be guided by policy substance, not by political narrative.

I strongly disagree with Walz’s apparent belief that America can manage competition with the CCP. I also respect his clarity on human rights. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan…I’ll take half a loaf today, and come back for the rest tomorrow.